JAMA Clinical Reviews From the JAMA Network: Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid–Enabled Earbuds
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Aug 29, 2025 In this engaging discussion, Alexander Chern, a neurotology fellow at Johns Hopkins, dives into the exciting world of over-the-counter hearing aid-enabled earbuds. He explains how these innovative devices, like Apple's AirPods Pro 2, merge hearing health with consumer technology. Chern highlights the potential for increased accessibility, while addressing the challenges of stigma linked to hearing aids. Listeners will learn about home testing methods for hearing assessments, making hearing health more approachable and affordable for everyone.
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Research Background Drives This Article
- During residency, Chern studied links between age-related hearing loss and cognitive decline with Justin Golub.
- That work spurred his public-health interest and motivated this article on consumer hearing tech.
Mainstream Devices Expand Hearing Care
- Integrating hearing-aid features into mainstream earbuds can dramatically expand access to hearing healthcare.
- Alexander Chern believes this could reduce stigma and encourage earlier intervention for hearing loss.
In-App Audiometry And FDA Approval
- Apple’s software enables an in-app hearing test and device amplification linked to individual results.
- Chern notes the AirPods Pro 2 include an FDA‑cleared hearing-gate functionality making them functionally similar to OTC hearing aids.